Arsenal: Challenging Bukayo Saka imperative and… easy?

Bukayo Saka looks untouchable at Arsenal right now, but they still need to challenge him and, oddly enough, that’s incredibly easy to do.

Arsenal‘s youth infusion has been a tremendous boost this year. While Arsene Wenger was renowned for picking out talented youngsters, Unai Emery has proven more willing to actually give them the chance that they need. And you need look no further than Bukayo Saka for proof.

Saka was not supposed to be this relevant to the modern successes of the club. He was supposed to feel his way through the U23s, perhaps get those midweek starts and a few cameos in the Premier League. But here we are, just barely in October, and he isn’t just starting, but he’s lasting longer in matches than Nicolas Pepe.

Arsenal haven’t had the privilege of such a young talent and a manager so keen on using him in some time. You could count Alex Iwobi, perhaps, but we all see how that worked out. I don’t think anyone is expecting Saka to top out the same way that Iwobi did.

Part of why I think Iwobi topped out is because he stopped being challenged. He was given free reign to his position, which can sometimes work but sometimes you need someone better to step in front of you. If only to make you better yourself.

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Bukayo Saka would ordinarily be a hard guy to challenge at this point. He works so hard and is so incredibly effective—and young—that you have no excuse not to start him.

But with the emergence of Gabriel Martinelli, challenging Saka just got a lot easier. Martinelli can check off nearly all the same boxes as Saka. The only difference being Martinelli hasn’t had as much opportunity to cement his place. Rather, he’s only just started to tantalize.

When Alexandre Lacazette comes back, it will be curious to see what Unai Emery does with that front line, but seeing as how he has no problem leaving Mesut Ozil out of everything, benching Nicolas Pepe in favor of Saka (or Martinelli) hardly seems like a stretch.

Saka and Martinelli are going to be each other’s greatest competitor and greatest ally. They’re only 18-years-old apiece and they’re both hungry to get into the Premier League for good. Saka looks like he’s already there, but Martinelli is going to be nipping at his heels literally every step of the way.